How can you tell if your factory radio is XM ready?

I am wanting to install XM radio. What are my best choices?:confused:
Thanks George

I don't think any GM radios are "XM Ready." XM Ready meaning all you have to do is plug in a receiver. You need a more complete kit.

http://www.myradiostore.us/bundles/car/xm-direct-gm-general-motors-xmdgm100.html

I used the above kit. It is $160 cheaper than the GM kit (by MSRP), and MUCH easier to install. All you have to do is pull the radio, plug stuff in, route the antenna, and you're done. Works through the factory radio controls just like the GM kit would; I switch to XM using the band button; it goes from FM to AM to XM. Pretty neat.

The factory XM kit is available thru GM parts direct and the price was approximately $366.00.

Tom

Thats weird, I thought all the GMC sierras came with XM radio ready and on star.I know here at the local GM dealer where I got my HD the rest of the GMC HD's are like that as well.

Torquet, you don't tell what year your truck is, so I'll assume its an 03+...since you could get XM from the factory for the newer RDS radios.

Give Eric a buzz... www.gmdieseltech.com (http://www.gmdieseltech.com/)

$340, AND he's a vendor and member of this site.

http://www.gmdieseltech.com/store2/cart.php?target=product&action=view&product_id=16262&category_id=248

From what I understand, it's the factory plug-and-play kit. You may have to have your dealer program the radio for it, but that wouldn't be a big deal.

If you have an 01/02, you'll have to go aftermarket.

Tom http://dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=107

its a 2004.5 thanks for the help :)

OK, sounds good.

I have one question. Where does the antenna go? I want to know becasue I have read that many XM systems fail to work with a camper installed in the truck. Can the kit take a remote antenna?

I don't think any GM radios are "XM Ready." XM Ready meaning all you have to do is plug in a receiver. You need a more complete kit.

http://www.myradiostore.us/bundles/car/xm-direct-gm-general-motors-xmdgm100.html

I used the above kit. It is $160 cheaper than the GM kit (by MSRP), and MUCH easier to install. All you have to do is pull the radio, plug stuff in, route the antenna, and you're done. Works through the factory radio controls just like the GM kit would; I switch to XM using the band button; it goes from FM to AM to XM. Pretty neat.

The kit uses a standard Terk receiver, that will accept the connection from any Terk antenna. I have my antenna routed up between the two layers of weatherstripping and out through a small gap in the weatherstripping at the rear corner of the door.

The more popular way to route it is up the A-piller, through the headliner, and out the third brake light. The GM kit recommends routing up A-piller and drilling your roof.

As for a camper, you are correct about it not wanting to work with the camper installed. Some folks route the antenna through the camper to the camper roof. The only real solution (aside from leaving your camper on all the time) is to either keep two antennas and switch wires, or to place a switch.

I have also heard of people putting the antenna on their hood with good resultsl The antenna that comes with the kit is very small, about 1.5" square, and nearly flat.

I've never heard of someone using a remote antenna.

Switching antennas would get bothersome to me, I put the receiver behind the glove box, and I wouldn't want to empty the thing every time I put the camper on.

This was all I could find about XM on a camper, I saw a much more complete guide a few months ago, but can't find it:

http://www.ron-richardson.com/xmradio/

Would it be possible on an 05 to install an aftermarket xm radio/ cd player and have it work through your steering wheel controlls?

Would it be possible on an 05 to install an aftermarket xm radio/ cd player and have it work through your steering wheel controlls?
I don't know about an aftermarket radio, but if you use either the GM kit or the kit I posted, the steering wheel controls will work.